Hobby or harassment? Blogger Strom jailed for cop site

Elisha Strom has been sitting in Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail for two weeks. Her alleged crime? Publishing the address of an officer on the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement– JADE– task force.

"It's a stupid reason to be in jail," says the 34-year-old blogger, who maintains she was merely chronicling the activities of JADE as a hobby on her blog, I HeArTE JADE.

Since October 2008, Strom–- already unpopular for her connections to the white separatist movement–- has earned the opprobrium of law enforcement by following around JADE members, photographing them, and giving them nicknames like "Dasani," "Longhead," "Pringle," and "Porn Star."

Her last post on July 16 reads tersely: "Uh-Oh. They're here."

The Code of Virginia forbids publication

Elisha Strom declines to say why she "hearts"– or "hates" JADE, other than to call her interest in the drug task force a "hobby." FROM THE I HEARTE JADE WEBSITE

of law-enforcement officers' addresses or photographs with the "intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass" in §18.2-186.4. Most recently updated in 2007, the Class 6 felony carries a mandatory six-month jail sentence.

"It's not illegal to publish the address," argues Strom in an exclusive jailhouse interview nearly two weeks after her July 16 arrest. "It's not illegal to publish the photograph. It's illegal to do so with the intention of harassment."

She denies that harassment was her intent, and says she uses her blog to satisfy her curiosity about the task force, comparing her efforts to investigative journalism.

"Part of the problem is the concern for people who'd want to do harm to an officer trying to perform his job," says Albemarle Commonwealth's Attorney Denise Lunsford. "There are many ways to prove intent."

Lunsford reels off such factors as the language on I HeArTE JADE, the context, and what Strom may have said to other people.

Strom insists that JADE no longer constitutes an undercover task force because Charlottesville is so small that the officers rely on informants to infiltrate drug networks. "I didn't put up any information about informants," she declares.

The officer's address Strom published came from public records, as both Charlottesville and Albemarle put real estate records online. She added a photograph of the officer's house– some house photos are also available online– and a picture of him getting into a Monte Carlo.

"I think they're embarrassed, and I think they're mad," opines Strom of the JADE men. She adds that she's sorry about the concern she caused the officer whose address she posted.

Her interest in JADE stems, she says, from the arrest and conviction of her estranged husband, white separatist Kevin Strom, for one count of child porn possession. He was found not guilty of intimidating a witness–- Elisha–- and enticement of a minor in October 2007, but pleaded guilty to the kiddie porn charge and served 23 months.

One of the investigators on the Kevin Strom case, Charlottesville Police Detective Brian O'Donnell, also has worked on the JADE task force.

What's unclear is whether a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, Ostergren v. McDonnell, will have any effect on the law under which Strom is charged.

Privacy advocate B.J. Ostergren was aggrieved that Virginia public records often include Social Security Numbers, and to call attention to the identity-theft threat, she published the SSNs of public officials that she found online.

The General Assembly responded by making it illegal to publish such info, even if it came from government records. Unconstitutional, ruled the U.S. Supreme Court in June.

ACLU of Virginia executive director Kent Willis sees a lot of similarity between Virginia's police-harassment law and a similar one in Washington state that was overturned by U.S. District Court in Sheehan v. Gregoire.

"Based on the Sheehan case, [Virginia] law is probably unconstitutional as written," says Willis. "You can publish information about public officials to goad them to action. It can't contain an actual threat to do physical harm."

Unemployed, Strom has been unable to post $7,500 in bond. Her next court date is September 17.

"A girl came in for assaulting an officer the same weekend I did, and she got less bond then me," notes Strom. "I never assaulted an officer."

Meanwhile, her blog is still up. "It's not coming down while I'm in here," she says.

58 comments

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 11th, 2009 | 6:54pm

Let's go with another theory on the Internet Service Provider. There's hundreds of homes in this area that are currently using unsecured wireless networks. I can land on them any time I pull over and park just about anywhere in the city or county. I guess it's because the people do not know how to secure their wireless, or they simply don't care. The point being, Elisha Strom could have internet service without paying for it. Whatever the case may be, I was simply saying I don't really see a connection to being unemployedd and having Internet access.

Furthermore, if a person has worked at the Virginia Deparmtent of Transportation for 20 years, and suddenly gets laid off, why should they NOT entitled to Gilmore's increased benefits? Am I reading it correct that you are opposed to any type of unemployment, food stamps or welfare benefits?

And, correct, the judge will rule in this case. And if a conviction is handed down the Appeals Court will then have to deal with it most likely. There could be new case law as a direct result of this one arrest. I don't view Strom as the type who will roll over and play dead.

It was pretty stupid for her to publish a cop's address on the Internet, we'll all agree on that. But on the other hand, the localities publish cop's addresses on the Internet in their online tax records. Does it rise to the level of a felony crime when a civilian does it?

Cville_welfare August 11th, 2009 | 6:29pm

If you look at Strom's website, there is no doubt that she intends to intimidate or harrass the JADE members. This is apparent when ignoring the publication of addresses. Since that is her intent, with threats such as "retaliate somehow if the FBI comes down on me." She published photos and addresses in order to show the JADE members her power.

The white separatist point is to illustrate that she is a known law breaker. It is unlawful to use race as a basis to deny services or employment.

If you think it's no big deal that she may be sharing internet from a neighbor, consider that it is also a violation of every ISP's Terms Of Service to share internet service. You are stealing money out of the pockets of the ISP's employees. You would probably agree that it's illegal to run a cable line out your window to the neighbor's house for TV: it's the same thing under the TOS you voluntarily sign when getting the ISP service. Consider whatever service or product that your employer collects your salary from, then halve it as customers share that service or product: will you still have a job?

Finally, in regards to not having to work thanks to social services: Thanks to Gilmore, there is a finite time our citizens can receive benefits, and at an average of $1100 per month, that's not a comfortable life with which to support 2 people. Internet services can be wrangled from Comcast for as low as $20 per month, making it a reasonable expenditure, especially if one is seeking work (which I suspect Strom is not).

However, none of this will sway your biggoted, entitled opinions. The judge will see the evidence of her site alone and agree her intent was to harrass.

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 12th, 2009 | 8:27pm

Simply Tired, thank you.

sick of the local blaa bllaaaa, thank you.

Sick=Gullible Oaf, no, I do not understand. You ask if I am a scorned lover of a JADE cop. This implies that you have some sort of knowledge that one or more of the JADE cops are homosexual. This comes as news to me, by God! My brother-in-law was a JADE cop before he got fired! I can assure you he wasn't homosexual. He always had a wife and girlfriend(s) at the same time for as long as I have known him. And I don't know anybody that worked with him that was homosexual. I will go one step further and say I do not know one homosexual cop in this area at all right off the top of my head. If you want to talk female cops, that's an entirely different story.

Getting back on topic, the question is if Strom violated the law when she published the home address of a sworn cop. I say no! Because the cops themselves published my home address in press releases, knowing darn well that I was still a sworn cop. We can't have double standards in this country. A crime if a civilian does something, and not a crime if the cops themselves do it. Do you understand my position in this topic now?

(How did you like the entry above where 4 grown men veteran cops criminally conspire against an innocent little female driver? Do you think it doesn't happen everywhere in this country? Think again, Cup Cake!)

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 12th, 2009 | 7:15am

Interesting questions. Why would I be in love with a JADE cop? Are you saying some of them are homosexual? That's a terrible rumor to start unless you know something I don't.

I suppose one of the things that gives Strom's blog entries so muc credence is the fact I can't honestly say I have ever known a cop who didn't run around on their wife. It's just something about the uniform, a babe magnet. And I feel this is why even plain clothes cops like to wear something at all times that still identifies them as cops.

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 12th, 2009 | 3:54pm

Here's a cop in very serious trouble if the accusations are true. But notice how the arresting doesn't give out his home address, BECAUSE he is technically still a sworn law enforcement officer!!!

NEW CASTLE -- A New Castle police officer has been charged with possessing and producing child pornography with a then-16-year-old girl with whom he allegedly had a sexual relationship.

The federal charges, filed in U.S. District Court, Indianapolis, on Wednesday, allege Lawrence Ross Frame, 45, videotaped sex acts with the girl and took nude photos of her over a period of time from June through October of 2008.

During a search of Frame's vehicle, police also found high quality duplications of U.S. $20 bills and a duplication of an Indiana driver's license. Frame's laptop computers, hard drives and small digital storage devices also were seized and had sexually explicit video and pictures, authorities said.

Frame, a veteran police detective, resigned after his interview with authorities and faces a Friday hearing before federal Magistrate Judge Kennard P. Foster.

He was charged with one count of possession and five counts of production of child pornography, according to Timothy Morrison, U.S. Attorney for Indiana's southern district.

According to the criminal complaint, Frame said he knew the girl through his relationship with her mother, and that he was aware how old she was when he had sex with her and took pictures of them engaging in sex.

Frame also admitted to producing counterfeit currency and the driver's license, but claimed he only did so to determine how high a quality reproduction he would achieve.

"Those who seek to harm and sexually exploit our children should know that we will hold them accountable for their actions," said Daniel Dill, resident agent in charge of the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Custom's Enforcement in Indianapolis.

The investigation into Frame actually began with New Castle police when the mother of the victim reported the sexual misconduct Monday night, according to Police Chief Jim Nicholson.

Nicholson said he turned the case over to Henry County Sheriff Butch Baker and the county prosecutor's office, who then brought in state and federal authorities.

"This was a serious allegation and something we had to expedite," Nicholson said.

On Tuesday, Nicholson took Frame into custody for questioning, and the detective later resigned.

Nicholson, who has known Frame for years, said he was shocked by the detective's alleged misconduct.

"We believe this happened during his off-duty status," the chief said.

Frame faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison on each production count, and a maximum of 10 years on the single possession count, and a $250,000 fine.

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 12th, 2009 | 9:44am

My bad! I cut and paste SNEEEZIE in another thread and forgot to change back. HaHaHaHa!!!

sneeezie August 12th, 2009 | 9:43am

My mind? You were the one speaking of the private sex lives of male officers now. You asked if a male (me) was a scorned lover of one of them. Your "100% positive" is wrong. I received a phone call a few minutes ago asking which JADE officers were homosexual after the office had read your post here. They asked if you had mo confused with somebody else. I told them it was just another local blogger who didn't really know how to drive their point home very well. It's going to be all town now that you have claimed some of the JADE cops are homosexual. I knew it was a bad rumor to start once I read your post. Shameful!!

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 12th, 2009 | 8:56pm

quote: "Strom’s incarceration and extrodinarally excessive bail is just another sick example of what our local police force and elected officials continue to subject us to, while we apparently allow it."

I suspect her bond was set high because a cop and/or cop's family has expressed fear. (That's another pet peeve of mine, grown men walking around with badges and guns and claiming thay are scared! Some of 'em could win Emmys for their performances in front of a magistrate!)

Furthermore, I feel she is making no attempt to meet bail so her damages will be more if and when she is found not guilty and files a few lawsuits. Sitting in jail for any length of time, and never being convicted of a crime, will certainly open a few eyes on a jury. But, this is just a wild guess on my behalf.

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 12th, 2009 | 9:36pm

quote, Sick=Gullible Oaf August 12th, 2009 | 12:16 am

"Are you in love with one of the JADE officers? Does your acrimony against the police force stem from your being romantically spurned by one or more officers?

Say whatever you want in followup replies. But to me, the person who called me this morning, and several people I have seen throughout the day, your original statement (quoted a few lines up) implies you feel some of the JADE cops are homosexual. You're the person who introduced homosexuality into this discussion. Is it true? You can tell us.

I think you are misinformed as to how many people read here and discuss the issues outside of this blog on a daily basis.

MoT August 3rd, 2009 | 9:59am

CE... I believe the Supreme Court has already ruled that police are ultimately not required to save your life or "arrive" just after you've squeaked for "help" on the very 911 lines you've been forced to pay for. Interesting isn't it? You have to pay for these costumed clowns and their supporting infrastructure but they, yes indeed, can take their sweet time and there is nothing that holds them accountable. They are simply nothing more than armed janitors and paper shufflers sucking at the tax teat. And judging by your comments on this and numerous other articles I gather you're very sympathetic to any government/civil parasite. Are you or have you ever been, or a relative, in such employ? I would in no way call it a "service". That would explain a lot.

Cville Eye August 3rd, 2009 | 8:09pm

"And judging by your comments on this and numerous other articles I gather you're very sympathetic to any government/civil parasite." Yep, just ask Overrun O'Connell.
"What, if anything, does this stupid comment have any business in there? " It points to the issue of the rationality of the ownber of the site.

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 11th, 2009 | 9:07pm

I guess I just got told off!

Let me take a wild guess since you harp on Storm and her subtle hints and implications of affairs with JADE cops... wife of a JADE cop?

Please learn to spell my name right, S-H-I-F-F-L-E-T-T. Thanks.

Sick=Gullible Oaf August 11th, 2009 | 7:56pm

One thing's for sure, Mr Shifflet, you've never been a detective. In your comments here, and over on Cvillenews where you post as Demopublican, you seem to be taking Strom's word for it that she had an affair with one or more JADE members. Post after post, you have continued to engage in conjecture about that.

Here's a newsflash for you, Mr. Washed Up Wannabe-- just because this racist freak infers on her blog that affairs occurred, doesn't make it true, despite your fervent wishes to the contrary. Good lord, one gets the impression you wet your pants every time a story like this breaks.

BTW, since you seem to need this to be explained to you: Your name etc was published either because you were a suspect or you had been arrested. This is SOP in the press. That was not true of the people whose names/addresses Strom published. Okay? Some cop you must have been...

Sick=Gullible Oaf August 12th, 2009 | 12:16am

ShiffleTT, you're the one who has been harping above on the possibilities of affairs. I merely commented on your apparent, and rather puzzling, obsession with that scenario. It's very strange that you give Strom's blog entries such credence, but not the words of your fellow posters. Do her blog entries carry a particular (and deeply personal) resonance for you?

Since the topic of officer's sex lives seems to be such a recurring theme with you... let me join you in the sport of taking "wild guesses," as you like to call them. Are you in love with one of the JADE officers? Does your acrimony against the police force stem from your being romantically spurned by one or more officers?

Sneeezie, aka Sick, aka Demopublican, aka Steve Shifflett, aka... who else on this site? Read the entire thing over again. Do it as many times as it takes to sink into your thick skull. I never EVER stated, or even inferred, that ANY of the JADE members are gay. I asked if YOU (much like Elisha Strom) were perhaps obsessed with one or more JADE members... NOT if they were obsessed with you.

Do you understand now, you clod?

I don't believe your ridiculous story about receiving that call. It's inconceivable that someone else out there is as comprehension-challenged as you are.

sick of the local blaa bllaaaa August 12th, 2009 | 7:38pm

The sickest shifflett in the barn! and probly the smartest.

Sick=Gullible Oaf August 12th, 2009 | 9:16pm

Oh dear, now I feel really sad for you. I did not ask if you were the spurned lover of a JADE cop. I asked if you were obsessed with their private sex lives because perhaps one or more of them might have spurned YOUR unwelcome attentions? Just trying to get to the bottom (pun not intended) of your obsession.

Of course, if you've had serious feelings for one or more of them, there's nothing wrong with that. Your frequent posts show that you obviously breathe, eat, and sleep for the opportunity to chat about the topic of policemen. So, is it possible that your feelings go deeper than you've wanted to let on here? It's not unheard of for people to become attracted to or obsessed about policemen, especially the straight good-looking ones. They are seen as authority figures and symbols of power. If someone feels powerless in their daily life, they might want to obsess over someone who seems to have what they lack-- popularity, for instance, or a successful career as a police officer or deputy sheriff. Sometimes that strong attraction manifests as hostility, as possibly happened in the case of Strom. Is that true for you too? You can tell us.

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 12th, 2009 | 3:50pm

quote by Sick=Gullible Oaf: "BTW, since you seem to need this to be explained to you: Your name etc was published either because you were a suspect or you had been arrested. This is SOP in the press."

In my daily travels around the bad cop news sites, I am going to import "arrest" and "suspect" tales here. Read the entry below in this reply. It is NOT normal SOP for a professional law enforcement agency to release the home address of a known law enforcement officer to the media. Even if he is a suspect or charged with a crime.

August 11, 2009

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA - An Escambia Sheriff's deputy is on the other side of the law tonight, charged with two counts of aggravated assault after an alleged road rage incident.

Joseph Dejoie, a 15-year veteran of the department, turned himself in to the county jail Tuesday afteroon.

Channel Three's Jake Peterson joins us live from where the incident began. Jake?

Mollye, driver Dylan Johnson says this all started when the driver in front of him slammed on his brakes, so he did the same.

He says he continued traveling next to the car on Scenic Highway, but quickly things turned dangerous.

What started as a drive to a fishing trip ended in road rage.

Dylan Johnson says he was traveling with his teenaged brother when he started exchanging words with a driver in a black car.

"My brother said the guy in front of us was flipping the bird but we didn't think anything of it. We kept on our way."

The report shows the men had an exchange for several blocks, but when they came to the intersection of Perry and Cervantes, things took a dangerous turn.

"I saw him doing some shuffling, then I said 'What are you going to do, shoot us?', then he pulled out a gun and pointed it at us."

Johnson called 911 on the suspect, but so did the man in the black car.

"He was on my a**, I hit the brakes, he starts cursing...yeah, we cursed each other as he went past."

You're listening to the voice of Deputy Joseph Dejoie.

He explains to the dispatcher why he pulled the weapon.

"He goes 'Oh, mother f***er, I'll f**k you up,' and starts reaching, so I pulled my s**t out and said 'Mother f***er, what you go to do?'"

Assistant Pensacola Police Chief Chip Simmons says Dejoie felt threatened by Johnson, but the law didn't take his side.

"There was probable cause to believe that aggravated assault was committed the deputy could not convince or justify to the investigators or the state attorney's office that his actions were justified."

"He didn't conduct himself like you think a law enforcement officer would."

Johnson believes Dejoie should be taken off the force.

"They should make an example out of him. Not all law enforcement officers are bad, if you have a group of people at least one or two are bad."

Deputy Dejoie posted 500 dollars bond.

He is on administrative leave pending the outcome of this case.

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 12th, 2009 | 4:12pm

Here's 4 "suspects", cops charged with criminal conspiracy against a citizen. But the arresting agency also does not give out their home addresses!

A cop's dashboard camera is supposed to catch criminals in the act. For four Hollywood, Florida cops, the dash cam may have foiled their plans to frame a motorist.

The four police officers -- three of them longtime veterans of the force -- were caught on one of the cop's dash cameras plotting to place the blame for a February traffic accident on a woman one of them had hit with their patrol car.

The disturbing video shows the woman, Alexandra Torres Villa, handcuffed in the back of the squad car as the officers get their stories straight on what they are going to say happened.

Officer Joel Francisco, 36, an 11-year veteran, crashed into the back of Villa's vehicle at a light on February 17 at midnight.

The cop radioed to other officers who converged on the scene and hatched a way to bail Francisco out.

Officer Dewey Pressley, 42, arrives and questions Villa, who tells him that she has been drinking.

The 21-year veteran officer seizes the opportunity and arrests her for DUI. But the plot thickens from there.

The cops begin to brainstorm believable excuses for the accident.

"As far as I'm concerned. I'm going to put words in his mouth. She went to accelerate and a cat jumped out of the window at which point he thought it could have been a pedestrian, which distracted him," Pressley tells Sgt. Andrew Diaz, another veteran of the force. "I mean what's the chances of hitting a f---in drunk when a cat jumps out of the window?"

Still, the cops run with the half-baked idea and rush to get Villa to do a Breathalyzer test so they can officially say she was drunk.

"I nailed her on the video. I already hung her on video. She said she has been doing a beer party," Pressley says. "She's gonna blow."

Then, another cop debates with Pressley on who is going to write up the fabricated report to clear their police comrade.

"I know how I'm going to word this with the cat so we can get him off the hook. I'll write the narrative," Pressley says. "We're going to bend this a little bit."

Civilian Community Service Officer Karim Thomas joins the three senior officers and the four cops go so far as to change the angle of pictures of the accident to make it look like Villa swerved in front of the cop car and caused the accident, not Francisco.

Throughout the tape, the cops acknowledged what they are doing is illegal, but when you are the law, there is nothing wrong with bending it for a fellow cop, one says.

"I don't lie and make things up ever because it's wrong, but if I need to bend it a little bit to protect a cop, I'll do it," Pressley tells Francisco after reassuring him no one will ever find out. "She's freaking hammered anyway."

The cops even do a final rehearsal before Villa is taken to the city lock up.

"We'll take care of it," one officer says. The others reply: "We're good."

The police officers are currently on administrative leave pending a state attorney's office investigation.

Villa, who was charged with four counts of DUI and cited for improper lane change, is still fighting the charges in court.

Tired of this guy.... August 12th, 2009 | 6:01pm

Mr. Spencer- I enjoy reading your website and newspaper. I find a lot of the discussion among readers online interesting and entertaining. What I don't like, and I am very tired of, is one of the posters (Sick of the local rambos) constantly hijacking threads and steering the topic away from the original intent of the story.

I realize that I can simply ignore the comments this person posts, but the times I have commented to speak to the original story, this poster redirects the discussion to his agenda.

I saw it mentioned awhile back that this guy should really give some consideration to starting his own website and spare us all his repetitive ramblings.

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 12th, 2009 | 6:08pm

So when I prove that something a person has posted is false, inaccurate and very self serving.... you want me banned?

HaHaHaHaHaHa!

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 13th, 2009 | 9:48am

Why would I ever want to draw the spotlight away from me? I want people to see me and hear what I have to say. Or haven't you noticed?

At least you made it through an entire reply without mentioning anything that implies JADE cops are gay or homosexual. I think we're making progress finally.

Cville Eye July 30th, 2009 | 1:55pm

Maybe she has invisible means of support. She obviously has internet in prison, too.

plop July 30th, 2009 | 2:37pm

Man! Two jailbirds in the family? I feel sorry for the poor kid.
Seems to me this chick ain't as smart as she thinks she is.

Well, after a few minutes of looking at the website she clearly belongs somewhere. Jail, Psych ward, raft at sea all seem about right. It looks like "Fatal attraction meets the Po-Pos."

Sick Of The Local Rambos July 30th, 2009 | 3:40pm

danpri, do you suppose any of the po-po would like to spend the night with her in the raft out at sea? Or have they all cast her aisde and have no use for her any longer? :)

Wow! Just one scandal after another in this area!

It's going to be interesting to see how many, if any, of the married po-po had extramarital affairs with her. I think the whole case is going to boil down to a "scorned woman". Hell has no fury like a woman scorned!

really? July 30th, 2009 | 3:42pm

whats the old saying a woman scorned...But yea she's nutz. And why else would she be so vindictive if they had not used her for a rental car.

really? July 30th, 2009 | 3:46pm

Dammit Rambozo beat me to the woman scorned thing sorry but I usually ignore his spewings...

Cville Eye July 30th, 2009 | 3:48pm

"...why else would she be so vindictive ..." I don't know, maybe one of their daughters beat up her daughter? Maybe one of them arrested or testified against her husband? Maybe one of them wouldn't date her in high school? Maybe one of them didn't hold the door for her? Maybe their parents didn't get along?

Cville Eye July 30th, 2009 | 3:53pm

Maybe she feels that one of their wives spread malicious gossip abou her. Maybe one of them takes her former seat in church. Maybe somebody made a barking-dog complaint against her. Maybe one of the wives' pie topped hers at the county fair. Maybe her remaining chickens wandered off into one of the officers' yard. Maybe one of the officers kicked sand in her husband's face at the beach.

really? July 30th, 2009 | 7:32pm

She was definitely the rental car in the equation. Actions speak louder than words. A Psycho b is still a psycho b.

Sick Of The Local Rambos July 30th, 2009 | 8:04pm

Mr/Mrs/Miss, if you usually ignore my spewings, how did you know I mentioned a woman scorned?

Sick Of The Local Rambos July 31st, 2009 | 9:44am

Is that the best you can come up with this early in the morning? Maybe after your morning coffee break, and you get back to your desk, you can do better.

Thanks for that line Cville Eye. Truly have or truly have not. That is the village.

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 1st, 2009 | 11:49am

Max, there's nothing secret about the JADE members. They walk around with guns, handcuffs, badges, pagers and cell phone on their belt all the time. They walk to and from their cars carrying SWAT bags. They place official placards in their windshields to avoid getting parking tickts. They wear vests and jackets with the word POLICE on them often. Strom has even put images on her blog to prove all of this. They're about as undercover as city work crew supervisors wearing white shirts at a jobsite. They're about as undercover as a bouncer wearing a black t-shirt with SECURITY printed on the back in a bar.

MAX FRISSON August 1st, 2009 | 10:08am

The police and JADE need more public examination, fewer guns and less military like power. No Ms Strom may be not the poster child for wise behavior but that does not make secert police and laws to protect them good either

Cville Eye August 2nd, 2009 | 11:19pm

@Internet Marketing Sales, you can infer from my statement above that life isn't perfect.

Cville Eye August 2nd, 2009 | 11:18pm

Just remember that vigilanteism can lead to many roads that you may not want to go down. It would be a shame if this woman called the police because her life or health was in danger and the police took its time getting there.

Steve August 2nd, 2009 | 11:40pm

After everything I've read about Ms. Storm and her stormy relationships. She has a motive, to what she's has done, that is not apparent to the readers of her blog. I suspect her motive will make its way out, when she appears in court on September 17. And most likely it will be a she says tell all that will not favor the JADE TFOs. But, that's just my opinion, based on what I've read on the internet.

MoT August 3rd, 2009 | 10:08am

And does this snippet have anything to do with this issue or is it simply plopped in to stoke the fire?

..."StromÃ¢â?¬â? already unpopular for her connections to the white separatist movement"...

What, if anything, does this stupid comment have any business in there? Or is it to prime the pump and say, "Ooooohhhhh... she's on the fringe!... She's a loony!.... Oooooohhhh!!!"

I'm not saying she hasn't done something wrong but, seriously, that line is as out of place as Billy Graham preaching in Mecca.

Simply Tired August 12th, 2009 | 7:13pm

I find SOTLR's frequent posts enlightening and generally on topic.
He always uses specific examples to state his case and some of those examples relate to his own personal experiences as compared to the subject at hand. In this thread he relates his own experiences to compare/contrast those of Strom. This is an effective literary technique, not a selfish haphazard manner of getting his point across. His detractors will have you believe that he hijacks too many threads in order to push his own self-serving agenda. I disagree, although I wonder how he has so much time on his hands to reply to all of these topics. I wish I had it.
In reply to those who feel that he should get his own website, I agree! That would be great! Those who feel he should be banned are ssimply misinformed. This blog would be far less interesting without him.
Now there are those who will certainly imply that I am SOLTR using another moniker. All I can do is assure you conspiracy buffs that I am indeed not "Sick". I am frustrated however by the corrupt police department who continue to bully, and abuse those who pay their salaries without accountability. Strom's incarceration and extrodinarally excessive bail is just another sick example of what our local police force and elected officials continue to subject us to, while we apparently allow it.
Keep up the good work Sick of The Local Rambos!

Adam July 30th, 2009 | 7:52am

We have to look out for those who look out for us.

Dashfield July 30th, 2009 | 8:48am

Elisha Strom's blog is really quite interesting.

A link to it is in the story above, but the whole site with every article can be seen as one big page if you go to the site and then append this to the base url -- .../search?updated-max=2009-07-17T19%3A12%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=1000

Leaving aside the legal issues, it's a testament to a totally obsessed woman. Celebrity stalkers and John Hinckley's "thing" for Jodie Foster are nothing compared with Elisha Strom's obsession with Brian O'Donnell and the JADE Task Force. Apparently Elisha once had a close relationship with O'Donnell that went bad: See her post .../2008/12/ghost-from-christmas-past.html

That relationship, whatever it was, started when Elisha Strom was a star witness in the politically-tinged trial of her husband, in which O'Donnell was the lead FBI - Joint Terrorism Task Force agent:

It's not clear how the relationship went bad, but Elisha says O'Donnell's actions inspired her anti-JADE blogging and stalking, as she makes clear on her very first post at ../coming-soon_25.html

She also had what appears to be a sexual relationship with another unnamed officer linked to the JADE Task Force (who she nicknamed "Boomslang"), and was using him to get confidential information about other officers and about JADE operations. See her post .../2009/04/put-camo-green-up-somewhere-anywhere_30.html

She also says O'Donnell (who she nicknames "Longhead" or "LH") "bullied" her: See .../2008/11/longer-version-with-oodles-of_13.html

Right at the end of the above post, she implies that she'll retaliate somehow if the FBI (probably meaning O'Donnell, who works with the FBI as well as the JADE and JTTF task forces) comes down on her.

It's not clear what she means by retaliation, but revelations of inside information on agents - possibly including marital infidelity and law violations - seem the most likely: In other posts, she claims to have discovered a married agent's mistress/girlfriend. She asserts she had close relationships herself with the possibly-married O'Donnell and "Boomslang." Maybe it's a kind of blackmail, though money doesn't seem to be a motive: "Leave me alone or I'll tell all I know." Were there other demands we don't know about?

It's cosmically bizarre the lengths to which this woman went to stalk her prey: following agents into stores and gyms, finding out their pants sizes, tailing them within inches of their bumpers for miles into the country, going to the property rolls and then letting everyone know where their families live, where they do target shooting, what kind of cars they drive (even down to updates when something is added to or repaired on the vehicle), lying in wait for them at home, at work, at stakeouts, at court. When did she have time to work - or to raise the 12-year-old daughter she claims to have? Just the writing alone must have taken many many hours, to say nothing of the stalking.

Cville Eye July 30th, 2009 | 10:47am

This is precisely why Guantanmo should not be closed.
If she has a twelve-year-old then she doesn't have to work. She could get Aid to Families with Dependent Children and a whole host of other freebies. I'm surprised she hasn't moved to the welfare capital of the world, Charlottesville.
I hope it takes a long, long time for her to go to trial and that she never gets bail.

Sick=Gullible Oaf August 12th, 2009 | 8:37am

Nothing in my post inferred that any JADE cop is gay. I'm 100% positive that you're the only one that read that meaning into it. :) Hmmm... how interesting that your mind keeps coming back to the private sex lives of male police officers! Well, whatever floats your boat, Steve. It's a free country.

Hello folks,
Just a couple things to think about. First, should we lock people up for exercising their right to freedom of speech? Second, should we enact laws that deprive people of their God-given rights? Third, if we do permit those laws, should we leave them vague or strive to have them well-defined so as not to be abused by those in power?

Other things to think about. A defendant has the right to know and see the person(s) bearing testimony against them. This means that anyone could attend a court case involving JADE, and find out who is part of the law enforcement task force. As pointed out in the main article it would be easy to obtain the rest of the information, such as addresses, phone numbers, and more - just from public directories and databases.

How do local news organizations get photos of a raid that is taking place? Someone for the task force has to call the local news channels, and let them know. So the news hounds don't think they are going on a wild goose chase there has to be a name known to the news agencies, so the names are not well protected. And when the local tv news people arrive on the since they capture a lot on film, such as faces of those arrested, and those doing the arresting.

Maybe, just maybe, we should enact a law that makes it a capital crime to leak any information about an under cover operation until five years after the last person involved in the case is dead. This way you can't bring false glory to those that are not to be seen or known about to begin with. And before you start arguing that this is a dumb idea, look at what the state legislators have already done - quoting from the story above:

The Code of Virginia forbids publication of law-enforcement officers’ addresses or photographs with the Ã¢â?¬Å?intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass” in §18.2-186.4. Most recently updated in 2007, the Class 6 felony carries a mandatory six-month jail sentence.

So, if we have a law the suppresses our civil rights, why not have a law that keeps a person's mouth shut that can do more damage, like getting a task force's picture's on the air waves?

To sum it up, it is not ok for a private citizen to publish information, yet it is expected that your fellow officer can get you killed by leaking information. What a lovely day and age we live in.

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 12th, 2009 | 9:54am

quote, CVille Eye: "Maybe (Strom's) remaining chickens wandered off into one of the officers’ yard."

Could be. Last time a neighbor's dog wandered into a county cop's yard, he shot it! If you recall, the animal cruelty charge was thrown out of court because the cop had not been read his rights. Wouldn't you assume most cops know their rights without having to have them read to them?

----------------------------------------------

From The Hook, published November 30, 2006
By LISA PROVENCE & DAVE MCNAIR

Another dog shooting

Neighbors found Astro, a Lab mix, on their porch January 9, 2000, fatally wounded. They had followed a trail of blood from their house on Gilbert Station Road to behind Gluba's residence.

"He shot our dog in the head," says Sperry.

Gluba admitted shooting Astro, a dog Sperry says was a loving family pet. To bring charges, Sperry says she had to convince a special prosecutor to take on the man in blue.

"It's very hard for anyone to accuse a policeman," says Sperry. "I wanted to get something on the record."

On June 15, 2000, however, the charges were dropped. Gluba contended that any admission he might have made was inadmissable because he hadn't been read his Miranda rights. "That's very convenient," says a still-outraged Sperry. "I think it's an atrocious use of Miranda."

Gluba says that the incident occurred when a pack of five dogs came onto his property and threatened Ingo.

"You're talking about a dog I have to protect," he says. "My assumption was it was a pack of wild dogs. I had no intention to single out one, and I didn't want to hit one. My intention was to scare them off."

"I am an animal lover," says the officer, dismissing any comparison of the shooting of Ingo with that of Astro. "You're not really comparing apples to apples."

Biscuits_and_Gravy July 30th, 2009 | 9:29am

"I’ve got ulterior motives for doing this but I see no point in going into them just yet."

She comes off as totally obsessed in that blog. What a nut case.

I'm not a lawyer and I don't really care about the legal merits of what has happened. I am just sharing my opinion about this woman and her blog.

What if your significant other was part of this task force? Knowing that we have a lot of wannabe thugs in this town, wouldn't you be terrified of their pictures, phone numbers, and addresses being published along with their connection to the group? Her line about just being curious is BS. She's sick.

Hey Sicko July 31st, 2009 | 8:59am

Maybe when this woman gets out of jail the two of you can hook up. You seem so perfect for each other!

Sick Of The Local Rambos August 1st, 2009 | 9:01am

Mr/Mrs/Miss Yikes, from readint the blog in it's entirety, I think the word "penetration" applies quite well in this case. I think it could very well explain her motive in creating the JADE blog in the first place. :)

Back in my younger day, I had pretty much the same philosophy. Why buy the cow when you're getting the milk free? But wow, boy ohh boy, does that milk end up costing ya in the end!

Sick=Gullible Oaf August 12th, 2009 | 11:41pm

Sick, it doesn't matter one bit if you claim people misunderstood. You know what I meant. They know what I meant. It's here in black and white for all to read. You're being disingenuous and deliberately obtuse to draw the spotlight away from yourself, and everyone knows it.

You're completely obsessed with policemen. It will remain a mystery why this is so. You speculate on the lives of others constantly, but, like the big baby you are, you can't handle one iota of the same sort of speculation landing on you. When confronted, you try an amateurish tactic of smoke and mirrors. Your knowledge is faulty, your deductions are completely agenda-driven, and your second-guessing of the police is laughable on your very best days, which are rare.

You named yourself, and how appropriately: Sick.

sigh July 30th, 2009 | 11:22am

CE

go take your glen beck, totally unhinged rantings and apply them to something less destructive. unless you also feel Robert Novak should also be in an orange jumpsuit for leaking the name of Valerie Plame.

Cville Eye July 30th, 2009 | 12:00pm

Why, yes I do, darling. Question, sigh: how can be have undercover operations if everybody can publish their identities for no better reason than to punish them for personal reasons? Wasn't Plane's job more important to this country than political games of the White House and prestige for the press?
BTW, who is glen beck and what does he have to do with this woman in Greene County?

Vito Profaci July 30th, 2009 | 12:25pm

This is retarded.

zombie_hands July 30th, 2009 | 12:55pm

she's unemployed and has internet service at home?

Sick Of The Local Rambos July 30th, 2009 | 2:01pm

Zombie, being unemployed and having Internet access is no big deal. If Sally next door has high speed internet service and uses a wireless router... she could allow Strom access to it while Sally is at work during the day. Sally may even allow Strom access to it 24 hours a day. There are people in this world who still do have friendships and share things.

The entire blog gives me the impression that at one time or another some or all of the JADE task force members were actually "sharing" Strom. :)

Sick Of The Local Rambos July 30th, 2009 | 4:32pm

Or maybe she created the blog because she can? I'm not convinved she stepped over the line. I would have to hear the prosecution and defense in it's entirety.

It's not like many of these guys are truly undercover, so to speak. They walk around with guns, handcuffs, cell phones and pagers in plain sight. They carry official looking swat and police bags to and from their cars. They walk around in vests or jackets with the word POLICE on them. They want to be undercover, but at the same time they still want people to recognize them as cops.

My name and address was released by the cops when I was a sworn deputy sheriff. Plastered all over The Daily Progress, Channel 29, and numerous newspapers throughout the State of Virginia. This was after my using a P O Box for over 25 years in an atttempt to keep my family safe.

Now they want to whine because somebody released a name and address of one of them. I don't see any difference, except the fact I di dnot work undercover. They still jeopardized the safety of my family from any enemies I might have made on duty.

Yikes July 31st, 2009 | 11:26pm

Let's penetrate her, ahem, the way she did these poor objects of her fascination. What's her maiden name? Where did she go to school? When did she graduate? Who knows her from childhood? Was she a nutcase in high school? What jobs has she had? Inquiring minds...